Broken Promises (Broken 3)

I giggled and reached for a pool cue. Jase and Ava acted so much like brother and sister. I asked Ava once if she’d ever had feelings for Jase, and she told me they’d once snuck behind the bleachers to make out. When I asked her what happened, she said they’d both ended up laughing and had spent the rest of the night talking about the future.

We’d grown up together, but all had different plans. Ava wanted to be in design and planned to develop her own clothing line. Wedding couture was her dream. Jase loved ranching. It was in his blood, for sure. He planned to return to Llano after next summer’s trip to Italy to help our father with the ranch. Walker had more love for the racehorse side of the business and was planning a trip to Kentucky with our fathers in a few weeks.

“So are you looking forward to Italy, Jase?” I asked.

I racked the balls and got ready to start and a new game. I smiled when I noticed Walker’s eyes moving over my body. After finding out Walker was home, I’d pulled over and changed into my favorite boots and shorts. Keith didn’t like me dressing this way. He preferred to see me in dresses. He thought boots and shorts together were “trampy.”

I hit the cue ball and smiled when I sunk four balls.

“Shit,” Jase said. “I thought maybe you’d be rusty and we’d have an edge.”

I held up my cue and blew on the end. “I’m on fire tonight, little brother. Sit back and see how it’s done.”

Jase sat down on a stool and rolled his eyes.

Five games later, Jase put up his pool cue. “This is bullshit. I’m heading out. Y’all coming?”

Ava jumped up. “Where are we going?”

Jase looked around. “Luckenbach?”

I smiled. It had been so long since I’d gone out. I just wanted to dance and have a good time. “Let me change and I’m so there,” I said.

But Walker was texting someone. The smile on his face made my heart ache. I cleared my throat and tried to sound like I didn’t care. “You in or out?”

He looked up. “What? I’m sorry. What are y’all talking about?”

Jase laughed, “Dude if you weren’t sexting with your damn girlfriend you’d know. We’re heading to Luckenbach. Get a bit of dancing in. Do you need to ask your woman?”

Walker grimaced as he stood, shoving Jase. “Fuck off. You wish you had a woman.”

Jase chuckled. “Dude, please. I can get a piece of ass anytime I want.”

I heard my mother clear her throat.

Jase’s face turned bright red. He turned to her and said, “Mom, you know I’m just talking shit.”

My mother rolled her eyes. “Oh, I know you are, son. I know you are,” she said, eliciting laughs from the group. “Y’all be careful. I want a designated driver.”

I looked back at Walker. He was staring at me. “I’ll volunteer,” he said, not taking his eyes off of me. “I bet Liza wants to celebrate her engagement.”

My jaw dropped. I was pissed. I cocked my head as I smiled at Walker. “You know, that sounds like a good idea. I think a night of celebrating is just what I need.”

Walker pushed off the wall, coming closer. “Too bad your fiancé can’t join the fun.” He walked away, calling out, “Come on, Ava. We’ll pick y’all up in thirty minutes.”

“Thirty minutes? Hell, I need at least an hour to get ready,” Ava said as she followed Walker out of the den.

My mother winked and said, “Do I sense a bit of tension between you and Walker?”

Jase pushed by and kissed my mother on the cheek before turning to me. “When isn’t there tension between the two of them?” he said.

I giggled nervously and kissed my mother on the cheek. “Nah. I think we just haven’t seen each other in so long. We’re trying to get back into the swing of things.”

She nodded and said, “I was hoping we could talk tomorrow.”

“Of course, Mom. Maybe we can go for a ride and picnic by the river? I’m dying to get my feet in that water!”

“Sounds like a plan, Liza. Have fun tonight.”